Cessna 152 accident near Scotia, New York, January 17, 1993
On January 17, 1993 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6379M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scotia, New York (Saratoga Springs airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 1993 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Scotia, New York · Saratoga Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6379M · registry record · serial 15284701
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE SNOW PACKED RUNWAY, IT BEGAN TO BE 'JARRED TO THE LEFT.' HE APPLIED BACK PRESSURE, THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY AND SETTLED BACK DOWN. AGAIN IT VEERED TO THE LEFT WHILE FULL OPPOSITE RUDDER WAS APPLIED. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A SNOW BANK ON THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS REPORTED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 30, 1992; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Richmor Aviation, Incorporated
The flight
- Departed from: 5B2 at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 5B2
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 4,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:35 pm from ALB, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.